Katha Upanishad 3.3Famous
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आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु। बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च॥
ātmānaṃ rathinaṃ viddhi śarīraṃ rathameva tu | buddhiṃ tu sārathiṃ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva ca ||
""Know the Self as the rider of the chariot, the body as the chariot. Know the intellect as the charioteer, and the mind as the reins.""
What This Means:
This is the famous chariot metaphor: You (the Self) are the passenger. Your body is the vehicle. Your intellect is the driver. Your mind is the reins that control the horses.
Going Deeper:
This image shows the proper hierarchy: Self is master, intellect serves Self, mind is controlled by intellect. When this order is reversed, suffering follows.
How To Apply This:
Are you the rider directing your life, or have the horses (senses) taken over? Restore proper order.
#chariot#Self#hierarchy